Acetylene-gas generator.



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ACETYLENE GAS' GENERTUR.

(Application led Jan. 1, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet Udo4 Model.)

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ACETYLENE GAS GENERATUR.

(Application Bled Jan. 7, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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GEORGE S. BENNETT, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

ACETYLENE-'GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,546, dated November21, Application filed January 7,1899. Serial No. 701,474. (No model.) I

T0 @ZZ whom, t may Concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE S. BENNETT, residing atPortland, in the countyof Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and ImprovedAcetylene-Gas-Generatin g Apparatus, of which the following is aspecication.

This invention comprehends generally certain improvements inacetylene-gas-generating means whereby to provide a compact, stable, andeasilymanipulated apparatus which is positively automatic in its actionand which will eliiectivelyserve for its intended purposes.

One of the essential features of this invention lies in the peculiarconstruction of the combined gas settling, cooling, and storing tank, aneXteriorly-held generator, and awater-feed governed by Ithe consumptionand the varying pressure of gas within the tank and without the use ofvalves or adjustable cut-offs. 4

This invention also comprehends a simple and novel construction ofgenerator adapted to be held exteriorly of the main tank and including acarbid-holder detachably held within the generating-body by simple clampdevices readily manipulated, which will also serve to disconnect thegenerator from the main tank and water-feed and admit of thecarbid-holder being removed from the generator-body proper.

In its subordinate features this invention embodies certain.combinations and novel fea-v tures of construction, which will be firstdescribed in detail and then specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which-Figure l is aside elevation of myimproved gas-generating apparatus. Fig.2 is an end elevation yof the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinalsection thereof, taken practically on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. lis ahorizontal section taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5is a detail view of the cappiece for the generator, and Fig. 6 is adetail view of the water-feed pipe and the generatorsupply.

My improved gas generating apparatus comprises a single tank of suitableproportons,which is provided at the upper end with a su pplem ent-alchamber which acts as a cushion or balancing chamber to receive theWater as it is forced up from the purifying-compartment by the pressureof gas collecting therein, said cushion-chamber serving, as it were, thefunction of the ordinary rising-and-falling section of the ordinarygasometer. The said tank is also provided with a duplex Water-holdingcompartment, with whichat a point below and above the main or normalWater-line connects a feed-pipe whichhpas a series of escape-orificesarranged in different horizontal planes and above'the -lowermostfeed-lateral which connects with the main tank or holder, and whichopenings are adaptedto be brought in line with the varying Water-levelWithin the said main tank, stepby step in accordance with the varyingpressure of gas upon the Water Within the tank and produced by theconsumption thereof, whereby to create an automatically-regulatedWater-supply for the generator.

In my construction of acetylene-gas-generating apparatus the generatoris in the nature of a holder suitably supported exteriorly of the maintank and provided with a detachable cap adapted to be held gas-tight onthe generating-body proper by suitable clamping mechanism, saidgenerator also including a carbid-holder in the nature of ascreen-pocket removably held within the generator-body, its upper endbeing open and adapted Vto be held in line with the spray of thefeed-pipe which passes through the cap. The generatorcap is alsoprovided with a gas-outlet, with which connects an otake-pipe having asuitable drip portion at the lower end for the collectiou of solids andadapted to communicate and discharge into a gas-settling chamber formedin the upper end of the main tank, from which chamber the gas ispermitted to escape through a cooling-coil into the waterspace of themain tank and through whichfit percolates and collects in thecollecting-chamber above it and from whence, after being purified, itpasses back to the settling-chamber, from whence it is allowed to escapethrough a house-supply pipe, which connects with the upper end of saidsettling-chamber.

Having thus generally outlined the construction of my improvedapparatus, I shall now describe the same in detail, referring to ,theaccompanying drawings by letters and IOO numerals, in which likenumerals and letters designate like parts in all of the figures of thedrawings.

A designates the tank or cylinder, which is formed of suitable metal andof any desired size, it having a top or dome portion b and a bottom c,which are hermetically sealed or closed, with the exception that the tophas a feed-opening 2, which receives a screw-cap 24, said opening beingfor the pouring of water into the tank. The upper portion of the tankterminates in an air-chamber 7c, the base of which is made conical, asat c, and terminates with a central downwardly-extending tube orcylinder d, the lower end of which is open, as at P, and ends near thebottom c, said cylinder being braced at the upper end by a conicaldiaphragm f, which has its inclination reversely to the base c of thechamber 7a, the said portions e and fserving to form an annulargas-settling chamber L, surrounding the pendent cylinder, the purpose ofwhich will presently appear. The parts f, d, and c form thegas-circulating chamber o o, which communicates with the interior ofthecylinder d through the opening P at the bottom.

In operation water is iilled into the tank A through the opening 2 atthe top to the normal water-line, (indicated by on im) and the spacewithin the cylinder d between the top of the water and the top of thetank A forms the air-chamber 7c, which chamber has a vent 1, which isalways open.

4 indicates a horizontally-disposed pipe-l coil located near the lowerend of the tank A and mounted in suitable brackets q. This coil isperforated and communicates, through the medium of the pipe 16, with theupper end of the gas collecting and settling chambel' IA. I

g indicates the generator or carbid-holder receptacle, which is providedwith a top 7L, through which the pipe 12, hereinafter referred to,passes, and said top h is held airtight on the top of the holder g by agasketjoint and yoke-clamp i', having claws to engage with an annularrim fr, forming a part of the holder g, and the clamping-screw j, thatengages a threaded openingin the yoke and bears upon the cap 7L, asclearly shown in Fig. 3. This receptacle r/ contains a wire basket orcylinder open at the top and extending substantially froln the top tothe bottom of the receptacle g, it being of such diameter as to bereadily removable from the said receptacle. The object in making thecarbid-holder of open wirework is to permit the ash as it accumulatesfalling from the holder, and thereby always presenting freshor unslakedcarbid surfaces to the water-spray, it being obvious that by using thisform of carbid-holder when the same is removed to be refilled should anyunslaked carbid remain within the holder by gently tapping the sides ofthe said holder the remaining ash will discharge therefrom and theunslaked carbid remain.

The top or cap h of the generator has an offtake or discharge openingh', with which connects a gas-offtake pipe 9, and an opening h2, throughwhich passes the feed-pipe 12, the lower end of which has aspray 12,adapted to discharge into the carbid basket or holder The gas-offtakepipe f) enters the highest point of the gas-settling chamber in thetank, as indicated at 18 in the drawings, and said pipe 9 extends belowits point of connection with the generator-cap member 71, as indicatedat 9, said portion forming a drip or collecting well, and is providedwith an escape-valve 9", as clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

10 indicates a stand-pipe which enters the gas-purifying chamber o attwo points, one, as indicated at 13, below the normal waterline m andthe other, as indicated at 14, near the upper end of said chamber. Thelower end of the stand-pipe is closed and has projected into 'it avertical extension 12b of the water-feed pipe 12, which extendslaterally and passes through the generator-cap h and terminates in aspray-nozzle, as before stated. The extension 12b of the pipe has aseries of water-inlets 12c arranged one above the other, the purpose ofwhich will presently appear.

S indicates a pipe located exteriorly of the tank A, the upper end ofwhich passes at 5 into the upper chamber k, while the lower end entersthe gas-purifying chamber 0 o at 8 at a point below the coil 42 7indicates a pipe which enters the lowest point of the gas-settlingchamber L, extends toward the exterior of the tank 0, and terminatesatthe drip-cock 17, the purpose of said pipe being to lead off thecollections within the settling-chamber L, which will readily, by reasonof the iiaring chamber j', flow toward the mouth of the pipe 7.

6 indicates an olftake-pipe which enters the gaspurifying chamber o 0 atthe highest point, and 11 indicates a clean-out which enters thegas-chamber o o at its lower end.

2G and 21 indicate stop-cocks by means of which the flow of gas and thewaterfeed can be stopped and the communication between the tank A andthe carbid-receptacle cut off at will.

The operation of my improved apparatus is best explained as follows:Assuming the water in both the chamber o and the cylinder CZ n to be atthe normal water-line m m and the carbid placed within the holder g andproperly sealed, the stop-cocks 26 and 21 are then opened, which allowsthe water in the pipe 10 to enter all the perforations in pipe 12 andpass down into the carbid-receptacle and, contacting with thecarbidtherein, generates the gas within the holder g, which passes out throughthe pipe 9 into the gaschamber L, where it has an opportunity forsettling, and from whence it passes from the IOO pipe 16 into thecooling-coil 4f, which is provided with suitable perforations, throughwhich the gas passes into the chamber 0 o, through which it rises andcollects in the upper part of the chambero ol and passes outinto theofftake 6, from which it can be drawn at will. By arranging the parts asdescribed it will be readily seen that the gas-pressure whichaccumulates within the chamber 0 above the water will serve to force thewater down in such chamber and correspondingly upward within the chambern, such operation serving practically the same function of thevertically-movable member of the ordinary gasometer. As the Waterrecedes within the space o o by the gas-pressure its level will fall inthe plane with the upper end of the pipe l2, and as the gas-pressureincreases within the said chamber o o the water-level will fall step bystep below the several inlets to the pipe 12, the reverse taking placeas the pressure of the gas reduces, thereby gradually and intermittentlycutting oftthe supply to the generator proportionate t0 the varyingpressure of gas within the tank produced by the consumption of the gastaken therefrom, it being obvious that as soon as the water within thetank A recedes below the lowermost feed-lateral of the pipe 10water-supply to the generator will cease, it being also understood thatas the water within the chamber 0 recedes it correspondingly riseswithin the chamber fn k. Thus should the pressure of gas becomesufficient to force the water within the chamber o o down below the endof pipe 8 the said pipe would then be freed of water and the gas allowedto pass out into the same until it was'closed again by the rising of thewater within the chamber o o, said pipe 8 acting, as it were, as ablow-oft or safetyvalve, as the gas within the chamber o o, as soon asthe lower end of the pipe 8 is opened, will pass out through the saidpipe into the chamber lo at the top and out into atmosphere through thevent l until the pressure on the water is sufficiently reduced to bringits lever again to the point on the lower end of pipe 8.

By constructing the several parts in the manner shown and described thegeneration of gas can be effected automatically without the use of ashut-off cock to regulate the same. Furthermore,`it will be readily seenthat supposing the water to be about in line with the lower feed-lateralof the pipe 10 the slight variation of gas-pressure within the chamber oo will permit the water to rise or fall and cut in 0r out thefeed-orifices of the section 12a, one at a time, thereby positivelyregulating the lioW of the water to the carbid-holder proportionate tothe pressure of gas contained within the tank A.

3 indicates a discharge for drawing 0E the water from the chamber o whennecessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. An acetylellegas-generating apparatusV of the character described;comprising a tank having means for filling through the top, and anoverflow-outlet in the said top, said tank having a centralupvif'ardly-extending section closed at the top from the water-holdingspace of the tank, its lower end being open and communicating with theaforesaid water-space; a generator and feed-water supply thereforconnected with the tank-water space, governed in its supply by thevarying water-level in the tank; a gas collecting space within the saidtank; a feed-pipe from the generator discharging into the saidgascollecting space, and a feed-pipe from the said gas-collecting spaceprojected and discharging into the waterspace-of the tank, all beingarranged substantially as shown and described.

2. In an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus as described; thecombination with the generator mechanism; said mechanism including awater-feed communicating with the main-tank water-chamber, governed bythe rise and fall of the water-level therein; of a tank havinga chambero o, serving as a water-holder and gascollecting space, said chamberhaving an oiftake-pipe 6, the upper end of said tank having anair-chamber terminating in a pendent cylindrical portion communicatingwith the chamber o o, said air-space having an open vent; and theblowott pipe connecting the air-chamber at the top with the compartmento o, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

3. The combination in an apparatus of the character described; with thegas-generating means, the Water-supply of which connects with the maintank and is governed bythe rise and fall of water therein; of a maintank having a settling-chamber, a feed-pipe opening therein andcommunicating with the gascollecting space of the generator, said tankhaving an outer compartment o o; an inner compartment n, saidcompartment n, terminating in an air-space having an open vent andcommunicating with the compartment 0 o, and a pipe connection joiningthe settlingchamber of the tank with the water-space of the compartment0, all being arranged substantially as shown and for the purposesdescribed.r

4. In an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus of the character described;the combination with the tank having an air-space at the top providedwith an open vent, and terminating in a central pendent cylinder openingat the bottom into the tank; an annular settling-'chamber near the upperend of the tank; said tank having an annular space o o, forming-awater-holder and a gas-collecting compartment, -the gas-collectingportion of which has an ofttake 6; a cooling or spray pipe located inthe Water-compartment of the tank; a pipe connecting the cooling-coilwith the settling-chamber of the tank; a generator comprising acarbid-holder; a valved spraypipe discharging onto the carbid heldthere- IOO ITO

Y anism including the Water-valved spray-pipe l2; the valvedofftake-pipe 9, said offtakepipe having avalved drip portion; of a tankA, having an annular compartment o, forminga combined water and gascollecting space, the gas-collecting portion having an oitake G; anannular gas-settling compartment L, disposed over the top of thecompartment 0, said compartment communicating with the gas-pipe 9 of thegenerator; an air-chamber formed in the upper end of the tank having anopen vent, and terminating in a cylindrical pendent portion extending tonear the bottom of the tank A, and communicating with the compartment o;a cooling-coil 1ocated in the lower end of the compartment o; a pipeconnecting said coil with the settlingspace L; a pipe opening at theupper end of the upper space of the tank, its lower end communicatingwith the tank at a point below the perforated cooling-coil; a drip-pipe7, connected with the lowermost portion of the settling-space, and aclean-out ll, all being arranged substantially' as shown and deiscribed.

GEORGE S. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

A. T. LEWIS, A. R. DEAPER.

